Department for Communities and Local Government

Unitary Councils

baroness kennedy of cradley: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their policy towards the creation of large unitary authorities in English counties where there is significant opposition to that approach.

lord bourne of aberystwyth: The Government has made clear that it will carefully consider any proposal made by one or more councils in an area for reorganising that area's local government, and reach a judgement in the round as to whether the proposal, if implemented, is likely to improve the area's local government, commands a good deal of local support in the area, and whether the area itself is a credible geography for the proposed new structures; that judgement will inform the decision as to whether or not to implement the proposal.

Unitary Councils

baroness kennedy of cradley: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what proposals for large county-based unitary authorities they are considering.

lord bourne of aberystwyth: The Government has received proposals involving county based unitary authorities from Buckinghamshire County Council, from three Oxfordshire Councils, and from six Dorset Councils, which the Government is carefully considering.

Unitary Councils

baroness kennedy of cradley: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many proposals to create new unitary authorities in England they have agreed since 2010; and what will be the names of those new authorities.

lord bourne of aberystwyth: Neither this Government, nor the Coalition Government following the election in May 2010, has agreed any proposal to create new unitary authorities in England.

Ministry of Justice

Civil Proceedings: EU Law

lord lester of herne hill: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will publish a plan for how the Brussels regime on EU civil justice co-operation will apply post-Brexit.

lord keen of elie: As made clear in the Government’s White Paper, The United Kingdom’s exit from and new partnership with the European Union, civil judicial cooperation is an important issue, which is being considered as part of the UK's preparations for EU exit negotiations.We recognise that an effective system of civil judicial cooperation will provide certainty and protection for citizens and businesses, families and consumers. The UK intends to keep working with others, including stakeholders, in order to ensure a smooth transition to future arrangements.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Climate Change Convention

lord hunt of chesterton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have discussed the objectives of the Paris Agreement with the government of the United States; and whether they intend to continue to work with the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and other UN agencies to implement those objectives.

lord prior of brampton: Her Majesty’s Government is committed to tackling global climate change. We play a leading role internationally and we are delivering on our commitments to create a safer, more prosperous future for us all.As he stated in the House of Commons on 28 March, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary raised climate change during his recent visit to Washington. My hon. Friend the Minister for Energy and Industry also raised it during his visit to the United States including during his meeting with Energy Secretary Rick Perry.As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said in her speech in Philadelphia earlier this year, climate change does not respect national borders and so is a challenge best faced by leading together, including through multinational institutions, like the United Nations (UN), that encourage cooperation and partnership.We remain committed to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change process, the Paris Agreement and the institutions that underpin it such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. These bodies are invaluable in coordinating global efforts to tackle climate change and ensuring that these efforts are based on robust scientific and economic analysis.

Research

lord hunt of chesterton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they will ensure that, following Brexit, UK research groups will receive appropriate funding and organisational assistance to enable them to collaborate with EU research programmes and networks, in the same manner in which research groups in non-EU countries undertake such collaboration.

lord prior of brampton: In the Autumn Statement 2016 the Government announced that we will make Britain the global go-to nation for scientists, innovators and tech investors, by investing an extra £2 billion a year in R&D by 2020/21.This Government intends to secure the best possible outcome for the UK research base as we exit the European Union. We would welcome an agreement to continue to collaborate with our European partners on major science, research, and technology initiatives. However, whatever happens in the future, the Government is committed to ensuring the UK remains a world leader in international research and innovation.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Israel: Gaza

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what recent representations they have made to the government of Israel regarding lifting the Israeli blockade of Gaza.

baroness anelay of st johns: ​We have frequent discussions with the Government of Israel about the need to ease restrictions on Gaza. We most recently raised the issue of movement and access restrictions in the Occupied Palestinian Territories with the Israeli authorities on 13 March.

Israel: West Bank

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they are making to the government of Israel regarding the increased number of days of closure of the checkpoints between Israel and the West Bank for the Jewish Festival of Purim.

baroness anelay of st johns: While we have not raised this specific issue, we have consistently urged the Israeli government to ease movement and access restrictions in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, most recently on 13 March.

Israel: Elections

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they are making to the government of Israel regarding the amendment to the basic law passed by the Knesset on 14 March disqualifying candidates from running in a parliamentary election if they deny Israel's existence as a Jewish and democratic state.

baroness anelay of st johns: We have not raised this issue with the Israeli authorities. Whilst we are clear that politics requires a range of voices and free debate, the UK will continue to reject any efforts to de-legitimise or undermine Israel.

Khalida Ghosheh

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel regarding the arrest of Palestinian novelist Khalida Ghosheh.

baroness anelay of st johns: ​While we have not raised this specific issue with the Israeli authorities, we understand that Khalida Ghosheh was released on bail on 11 March.

Israeli Settlements: Crimes of Violence

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations are they making to the government of Israel regarding the report from Rabbis for Human Rights, that Palestinian farmers from Burin and Madma were attacked on 22 March by Israeli settlers during a ploughing day co-ordinated with the Israeli forces which was then cancelled.

baroness anelay of st johns: While we have not raised this specific issue with the Israeli authorities, we have repeatedly raised our concerns about incidents of settler violence and intimidation, and have stressed the importance of thorough investigations and accountability, as well as the Israeli security forces providing appropriate protection to the Palestinian civilian population.

Russia: Theatre Nuclear Weapons

lord campbell of pittenweem: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Russia about Russia's alleged violation of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.

baroness anelay of st johns: The INF Treaty is a Treaty between the US, Russia and other successor States of the Soviet Union, so it would be for those countries in the first instance to determine any breaches. The Treaty plays a vital role in maintaining Euro-Atlantic security, and we urge Russia to ensure full and verifiable compliance.

Northern Ireland Office

Gareth Malachy Doris

lord morrow: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, following the conviction of Gareth Malachy Doris for fuel laundering offences, whether the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland will revoke his licence in accordance with the terms of the Good Friday Agreement.

lord dunlop: Protecting the safety and security of the people of Northern Ireland will always be our first priority.Prisoners released under the terms of The Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998 will have been released on either a Life or a Determinate licence, depending on the sentence handed down by the courts at the time of conviction. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland may suspend the licence of an individual released under the terms of this Act if he believes that the person concerned has broken or is likely to break a condition of the licence, providing the licence handed down by the courts has not expired. Individuals released by the courts on a Determinate licence would be eligible for a licence suspension until the date their licence expires and those released on a life licence will remain eligible for a licence suspension for the remainder of their lives.

Northern Ireland Government

lord laird: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Dunlop on 24 March (HL6168) concerning undertakings given to the government of the Republic of Ireland that direct-rule would not be imposed as part of the current discussions, whether they can confirm that no agreement on the imposition of direct rule was made.

lord dunlop: The UK Government is focused on securing the resumption of devolved government in Northern Ireland. We do not want to see a return to direct rule. If talks between the parties fail in their objectives, however, we will have to consider all options, as it is the UK Government which is ultimately responsible for political stability and good governance in Northern Ireland. We have made no agreements about the imposition of direct rule with the Irish Government.

Terrorism: Northern Ireland

lord tebbit: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Dunlop on 27 March concerning the amnesty against prosecution for members of the IRA, whether the administrative scheme of comfort letters sent to on-the-runs has been terminated; and if so, when.

lord dunlop: In March 2014, the then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland first announced that the administrative scheme established by the former Labour Government into the so-called ‘on the runs’ was at an end. This was repeated in a statement to the House of Commons following publication of a detailed report into the scheme by Lady Justice Hallett in July 2014 (HC Deb 17 July 2014 Col 1040). It was further confirmed in a statement to the Commons on 9 September (HC Deb 9 September 2014, columns 779-789). In her report, Lady Justice Hallett concluded that “The administrative scheme did not amount to an amnesty for terrorists…Suspected terrorists were not handed a ‘get out of jail free’ card”. This Government has always been clear. In May 2010, had we at any time been presented with a scheme that we thought amounted to an amnesty, immunity or exemption from prosecution, we would have stopped it immediately. As far as those who received letters are concerned, the Government made very clear in the statement on 9 September 2014 that “Those who received individual or composite letters, or any other form of indication, stating that they were “not wanted” and who derived comfort from that should cease to derive any such comfort. In short, the recipients should cease to place any reliance on those letters” (Col 779). This Government believes in the application of the rule of law without fear or favour - where there is evidence sufficient to warrant prosecution people will be prosecuted.